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Robert Falconer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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family farmers to Foreign fieldhands consolidation of canadian agriculture and the temporary Foreign Worker program
Social Science Research Network, 2020Co-Authors: Robert FalconerAbstract:The repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic have made it harder for temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) to travel to Canada to work in food production, as they normally would, at the same time that there are large numbers of unemployed Canadians due to the economic lockdown. Some people, including policy-makers, might be tempted into believing that perhaps the two problems can solve each other, by deploying Canadian Workers to the farms, ranches and food-processing plants to fill the jobs that would normally go to TFWs. History suggests that this is fanciful thinking and that any attempt to manage our food supply system without a heavy reliance on Foreign Workers could easily result in higher food prices and poorer food choices for Canadian consumers at the supermarket. It’s true that there was once a time when food production was mostly managed by domestic Workers, however that was when most of these Workers were farm families, relying on unpaid family labour to manage smaller farms. Only a small portion of domestic Workers were paid employees, aiding farmers for only short periods of time. In the postwar period, Canadian farms underwent a dramatic consolidation, creating significantly fewer farms of substantially larger size that require outside labour to manage them. For decades, food producers have tried to utilize more domestic labour through various means, including higher wages. However, Canadian Workers have, for various reasons, largely been reluctant to work on farms or in other parts of the food-processing system and food producers have been forced instead to resort to a combination of technological solutions and an imported, temporary labour force. Any government trying to shut down the TFW program and replace the labour pool it provides with domestic Workers could find little uptake among Canadians, resulting in labour shortages. With producers unable to rapidly or completely substitute missing Workers with mechanization, the result could be higher prices for domestically produced food, reduced Canadian food exports and a greater reliance on imports for our food supply. A more sensible approach, to better assure the security of Canada’s food supply chain and promote economic growth, would be for governments to enact policies that help ameliorate the pandemic-related challenges to the Foreign supply of labour. This could include promoting better health and safety regulations through programs, subsidies and enforcement. It could also include measures that provide temporary Workers with greater flexibility in case of illness. It might also include additional incentives to attract more TFWs to come and work in our food sector. The COVID-19 pandemic does not change the reality that the security and affordability of Canada’s food supply system relies on producers having greater access to imported labour, not less.
Martin Ruhs - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the ethics of labor immigration policy
International Organization, 2004Co-Authors: Martin Ruhs, Hajoon ChangAbstract:This article examines the key ethical questions in the design of labor immigration programs. We propose a two-dimensional matrix of ethical space that isolates a number of different ethical frameworks on the basis of the degree of consequentialism they allow and the moral standing they accord to noncitizens. We argue for the rejection of extreme ethical frameworks and propose criteria that should guide national policymakers in their choice and application of a framework within the ethical subspace of moderate consequentialism and moderate moral standing for noncitizens. To translate these “ethical guidelines” for the design of labor immigration programs into policy practice, we advocate new types of temporary Foreign Worker programs. In contrast to many existing and past guest Worker policies, the programs that we propose would more actively promote the interests of migrant Workers and sending countries by more clearly defining, and more effectively enforcing, certain core rights of migrant Workers. For their helpful comments, we would like to thank Manolo Abella, Rainer Baubock, Thomas Brauninger, Wayne Cornelius, Clare Fox, David Heer, Jessica Heynis, Robert Holton, Eddie Hyland, Miles Kahler, Alan Kessler, Christian Klamler, Christoph Kuzmics, Phil Martin, Gail McElroy, Robert McLaughlin, Onora O'Neill, Nalini Persram, Thomas Pogge, Carlos Rodriguez, Robert Rowthorn, John Sender, Patrick Taran, Takeyuki Tsuda, Patrick Weil, two anonymous referees, and especially the editors of this journal. Martin Ruhs gratefully acknowledges financial support from the Cambridge European Trust, the Cambridge Political Economy Society Trust, the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies at the University of California-San Diego, and the Policy Institute at Trinity College Dublin. Most of this article was written while Martin Ruhs was a Ph.D. candidate at the Faculty of Economics and Politics, University of Cambridge, and a Visiting Research Fellow at both the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies at the University of California-San Diego, and the Policy Institute at Trinity College Dublin. Ha-Joon Chang wishes to thank the Korea Research Foundation for its research support through the BK21 program at the Department of Economics, Korea University, where he was a Visiting Research Professor when the manuscript was completed.
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temporary Foreign Worker programmes policies adverse consequences and the need to make them work
Center for Comparative Immigration Studies, 2002Co-Authors: Martin RuhsAbstract:This paper comparatively discusses the policies and adverse consequences of six major temporary Foreign Worker programmes (TFWPs) in five different countries (Germany, Kuwait, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States). I find that TFWPs have been quite different in design, but rather similar in their adverse consequences. The latter include: (i) the emergence of “immigrant sectors” in the host economy; (ii) the vulnerability of migrant Workers toward various forms of exploitation in recruitment and employment; (iii) the tendency of TFWPs to become longer in duration and bigger in size than initially envisaged; (iv) native Workers’ opposition against the introduction or expansion of a TFWP; and (v) the emergence of illegal Foreign Workers who, together with native employers, circumvent the programme. Given that most countries lack viable alternative to TFWPs, I argue that there is an urgent need to develop new types of TFWPs that avoid and learn from the past policy mistakes identified in this paper. The paper concludes with a proposal of seven general policy principles for making TFWPs work.
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temporary Foreign Worker programmes policies adverse consequences and the need to make them work escholarship
2002Co-Authors: Martin RuhsAbstract:This paper comparatively discusses the policies and adverse consequences of six major temporary Foreign Worker programmes (TFWPs) in five different countries (Germany, Kuwait, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States). I find that TFWPs have been quite different in design, but rather similar in their adverse consequences. The latter include: (i) the emergence of “immigrant sectors” in the host economy; (ii) the vulnerability of migrant Workers toward various forms of exploitation in recruitment and employment; (iii) the tendency of TFWPs to become longer in duration and bigger in size than initially envisaged; (iv) native Workers’ opposition against the introduction or expansion of a TFWP; and (v) the emergence of illegal Foreign Workers who, together with native employers, circumvent the programme. Given that most countries lack viable alternative to TFWPs, I argue that there is an urgent need to develop new types of TFWPs that avoid and learn from the past policy mistakes identified in this paper. The paper concludes with a proposal of seven general policy principles for making TFWPs work.
Dominique M. Gross - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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conditions for an efficient canadian temporary Foreign Worker program the case of quebec
Canadian Ethnic Studies, 2017Co-Authors: Dominique M. GrossAbstract:The goal of a Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program is to fill occupational labour shortages until local Workers are available. Such a program ensures that fast growing firms can hire Foreign Workers to avoid a slowdown or a stop in their activities. A necessary condition for such a program is to give priority to local Workers in hiring. In addition, in the medium term, shortages must be eliminated by increases in local labour supply. Hence, this immigration policy involves constraints to participating firms which must be strictly respected. Since its creation in 1973, the Canadian TFW program has experienced a large number of changes which made it more accessible. Among them, in 2002, the TFW program became available for all occupations, skilled and low-skilled. There is increasing evidence that the program has had adverse impacts on some resident Workers in Canada. This paper shows that this is also the case in the province of Quebec. The main shortcomings are the absence of adequate information about the labour markets and low TFW hiring costs. Resume: Le but d'un programme de Travailleurs Etrangers Temporaires (TET) est de compenser le manque de travailleurs jusqu'a ce que des locaux soient disponibles. Un tel programme permet a des entreprises qui croissent rapidement d'engager des travailleurs etrangers pour eviter le ralentissement ou l'arret des activites. Une condition necessaire pour un tel programme est d'assurer la priorite des travailleurs locaux a l'embauche. De plus, a moyen terme, le manque de travailleurs disponibles doit etre elimine par une croissance de l'offre domestique. Ainsi, cette politique d'immigration exige des contraintes pour les entreprises participantes qui doivent etre strictement respectees. Depuis sa fondation en 1973, le programme canadien des TET a beaucoup evolue et est devenu plus facilement accessible. De plus, en 2002, il devint accessible pour toutes les occupations specialisees et non specialisees. Il y a de plus en plus d'evidences que le programme a affecte des travailleurs residant au Canada. Cette etude demontre que c'est aussi le cas au Quebec. Les principales deficiences sont l'insuffisance d'information sur les marches du travail et les couts relativement bas d'engagement des TET.
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temporary Foreign Workers and regional labour market disparities in canada
Canadian Public Policy-analyse De Politiques, 2012Co-Authors: Dominique M. Gross, Nicolas SchmittAbstract:Temporary Foreign Worker programs are typically seen as short-term solutions to shortages of regional or occupational labour. During the past decade, Canadian regions experienced unequal economic growth, and some suffered from significant excess labour demand. The Canadian Temporary Foreign Worker Program was thus expanded and conditions to access it made easier. During the same period, the pattern of regional disparities in unemployment rates became more persistent. This paper shows that some of the persistence is due to the increased availability of temporary Foreign Workers. This suggests that policy makers did not price them correctly to avoid adverse effects on the Canadian labour market.
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temporary Foreign Workers and regional labour market disparities in canada
2009Co-Authors: Dominique M. GrossAbstract:Temporary Foreign Worker programmes are seen as short-term solutions to shortages of regional or occupational labour. During the past decade, Canada experienced unprecedented economic growth and some regions appeared to suffer from acute labour shortages. The country’s temporary Foreign Worker programme was thus expanded to include all types of low-skill Workers and access by employer was made easier. During the same period, wide regional discrepancies in unemployment rates persisted as the adjustment mechanism for convergence in regional labour markets did not seem to function. This paper shows that some of the persistence is due to increased availability of temporary Foreign Workers suggesting they are not priced correctly to avoid adverse effects on the Canadian labour market.
Paula J Kinoshita - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the canadian temporary Foreign Worker program do short term economic needs prevail over human rights concerns
Social Science Research Network, 2010Co-Authors: Delphine Nakache, Paula J KinoshitaAbstract:In recent years, the number of temporary Foreign Workers admitted to Canada has more than doubled. In this study, Delphine Nakache and Paula Kinoshita examine the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, in order to determine the Canadian and Albertan approaches to integrating and protecting these migrants. They consider three possible policy perspectives on the legal status of temporary Foreign Workers, according to whether the country of employment (1) sees temporary labour migration as an opportunity to integrate the Workers; (2) is indifferent to their future position in society; or (3) tries to prevent their integration. In order to determine into which policy perspective Canada fits, the authors analyze three important integration mechanisms: employment, family unity and access to permanent residency. In the field of employment, there is a discrepancy between policy and practice in regard to temporary Foreign Workers’ rights. A significant factor is the restrictive nature of the work permit (temporary Foreign Workers are often tied to one job, one employer and one location), which can have the practical effect of limiting their employment rights and protections. Other problems include illegal recruitment practices, misinformation about migration opportunities and lack of enforcement mechanisms. In the context of employment, Canada seems indifferent to temporary Foreign Workers’ future position in society. On family unity and access to permanent residency, there are significant differences in their treatment, depending on their skill levels. The spouses of highly skilled Workers are able to acquire open work permits, and highly skilled Workers have the opportunity to get permanent residency from within. In contrast, the spouses of lower-skilled Workers must apply for a restricted work permit, and lower-skilled Workers, with few exceptions, have very limited opportunity to migrate permanently. Yet they can renew their temporary status so long as they have employment. Nakache and Kinoshita conclude that Canada encourages the integration of highly skilled Workers and is indifferent to that of lower-skilled Workers. The authors argue that the short-term focus of Canada’s temporary labour migration policy will not help the country realize its long-term labour market needs and is unfair to the vast majority of temporary Foreign Workers, who are expected to spend years in Canada without contributing to society in the long run. They offer a number of recommendations. To mention a few, they recommend that the work permit be restructured to allow these migrants greater mobility; that enforcement mechanisms be used to protect them from abusive practices; that communication between different governmental players be improved; that a policy be adopted to support the integration of temporary Foreign Workers; and that public debate about the recent changes in Canada’s labour migration policy be encouraged.
David Koh - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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migrant Workers and covid 19
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2020Co-Authors: David KohAbstract:Objectives Daily numbers of COVID-19 in Singapore from March to May 2020, the cause of a surge in cases in April and the national response were examined, and regulations on migrant Worker accommodation studied. Methods Information was gathered from daily reports provided by the Ministry of Health, Singapore Statues online and a Ministerial statement given at a Parliament sitting on 4 May 2020. Results A marked escalation in the daily number of new COVID-19 cases was seen in early April 2020. The majority of cases occurred among an estimated 295 000 low-skilled migrant Workers living in Foreign Worker dormitories. As of 6 May 2020, there were 17 758 confirmed COVID-19 cases among dormitory Workers (88% of 20 198 nationally confirmed cases). One dormitory housing approximately 13 000 Workers had 19.4% of residents infected. The national response included mobilising several government agencies and public volunteers. There was extensive testing of Workers in dormitories, segregation of healthy and infected Workers, and daily observation for fever and symptoms. Twenty-four dormitories were declared as ‘isolation areas’, with residents quarantined for 14 days. New housing, for example, vacant public housing flats, military camps, exhibition centres, floating hotels have been provided that will allow for appropriate social distancing. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted migrant Workers as a vulnerable occupational group. Ideally, matters related to inadequate housing of vulnerable migrant Workers need to be addressed before a pandemic.